Natural Resources

Associate of Science

UCC's Natural Resources - Landscape Monitoring Option program prepares you for a career in conservation science, wildlife biology, fisheries science, botany, forestry, watershed management and other fields related to natural resource science and conservation. The program takes advantage of UCC’s well-equipped facilities and the diversity of resources available on its beautiful 100-acre campus and nearby lands to provide a mix of classroom, lab, and field experiences not found at any other institution. This program requires 92 credits to complete.

Special Features

UCC is uniquely situated in the heart of world-renowned forests, mountains and rivers. Over half of Douglas County lands are under public ownership, giving us access to a wide range of agency experts and hands-on field experiences.

Application and Acceptance

There are no prerequisites to enter this program. Students can begin this program at any time, but a Fall term start will allow the program to be completed in two years.

Program Outcomes

• Recognize and classify common plant and animal species in the field, and use dichotomous keys to determine or verify their identity.
• Describe key ecological cycles, disturbance processes, and ecological succession in landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
• Describe the ways in which utilization, management, and allocation of natural resources are affected.
• Recognize and describe the interrelationships between the ecological communities that produce natural resources and the social communities that consume and manage them.
• Discuss historic range of ecosystem variability, human impacts that influence ecosystem change, and the future sustainability of natural resources.
• Work safely and navigate efficiently in the field using map, compass, GPS and other orienteering and data gathering technologies.
• Demonstrate current protocols for gathering and recording data in the field and lab.
• Map and quantify a range of natural resources at multiple scales.
• Analyze numerical and spatial environmental data, and apply current theory to those findings to solve problems in natural resource management.
• Envision and plan desired future landscapes that will achieve a set of natural resource-related objectives, prescribe management actions needed to achieve those objectives, and evaluate the success of these actions.
• Communicate effectively orally, in writing, and through current presentation technologies with audiences of diverse backgrounds.
• Work collaboratively within and among professional interdisciplinary teams and diverse community groups to resolve management problems and achieve management objectives.
• Self-assess professional strengths and weaknesses, and be committed to lifelong learning and professional development.

Careers

State employment statistics project a significant increase in demand for conservation and natural resource scientists and managers locally and regionally.

Transfer Guide

Our AS degree in Natural Resources provides a foundation for OSU’s Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources. After completing our Natural Resources AS, all of the remaining classes needed to fulfill OSU’s Bachelor’s degree requirements can be taken at UCC and through OSU’s online Ecampus, making it possible to earn your BS in Natural Resources without relocating to Corvallis.

Catalog Information

View / Download catalog information for Natural Resources (AS degree)

Related Degrees at UCC

• Forest Engineering: AS
• Forest Landscape Processes: AS
• Forest Management: AS
• Forest Operations: AS

Why UCC?

At UCC, you can earn a TWO-YEAR TRANSFER DEGREE for less than you'll pay for one year at a state university. Plus, UCC offers:

• Seamless, direct transfer degrees
• Expert faculty dedicated to teaching
• Personal attention and small class sizes
• Online classes

Contact

Prospective students should visit Advising and Career Services to get started and then see a program advisor (below) to develop a more focused educational plan.